LTC Elgin Mercado

LTC Elgin MercadoIWP USAWC Fellow, 2015-2016

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Elgin Mercado is a US Army War College Fellow at The Institute of World Politics in Washington, DC. Prior to this, LTC Mercado served as the Command Inspector General of the 7TH Civil Support Command, United States Army Reserve, assigned to the 21ST Theater Sustainment Command, United States Army Europe.

LTC Mercado is a native of Carolina, Puerto Rico. He received a commission from the Reserve Officer Training Corps in the US Army Corps of Engineers in August 1993, while attending the Interamericana University of Puerto Rico. His first duty assignment was with the 16TH Engineer Battalion in Bamberg, Germany where he served as a Platoon Leader, Executive Officer, and Battalion Adjutant.

In 1995, LTC Mercado deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina as part of the Implementation Force (IFOR) in support of Operation Joint Endeavor (OJE). After returning from OJE, he joined the 1ST Engineer Battalion (1ST EN BN) at Fort Riley, KS in December 1997, where he served as the Battalion Logistics Officer (S4). Following his assignment with the 1ST EN BN, he joined the 937TH Engineer Group at Fort Riley, KS in May 1998, where he served as the Assistant Group Operations Officer (S3).

In 1999, LTC Mercado left active duty and joined the United States Army Reserve.He served as the unit Logistics Officer (S4) for the 478th Engineer Battalion (Combat), Ft. Thomas, KY, and the 633RD Quartermaster Battalion, Sharonville, OH. In 2001, LTC Mercado took Command of the 558th Signal Company (Construction), Maineville, OH, and deployed the unit to Camp Parks, CA in support of the installations' network infrastructure upgrade. In 2002, he took command of the 320TH Adjutant General Postal Company (General Support), Cincinnati, OH, and deployed the unit to Kaiserslautern and Baumholder Germany to conduct postal operations.

In 2003, LTC Mercado joined the Active Guard Reserve program and went on to serve as the Secretary of the General Staff at the 95TH Training Division (Institutional Training), Oklahoma City, OK. In 2004, he deployed as the Contingency Contracting Officer for the 301ST Area Support Group, 77TH Regional Support Command, Ft Totten, NY in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). After returning from OIF, he joined the 81ST Regional Support Command, Ft Jackson, SC where he served as the Engineer Staff Officer responsible for east coast reserve unit stationing directives and minor construction projects. In 2009, LTC Mercado was assigned to the 1ST Mission Support Command, PR where he served as the Operations Officer.

His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Staff School, and the Command and General Staff College. His civilian education includes B.A. in Arts (UI, PR), and M.S. in Aerospace Administration and Logistics (SOSU). LTC Mercado's military awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Mobilization Device, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Consecutive Overseas Tour Ribbon, Army Superior Unit Award, NATO Medal, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.

FEATURED FACULTY

President and Co-Founder of Water Dragons Consulting, Senior China Policy Analyst at SAIC, Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland University College, and Major in the United States Army Reserve

This course will survey and evaluate the role of American foreign policy in the contemporary international system. Beginning with an introductory background setting, the course will systematically develop the several levels of geopolitical challenge to the national interest in major areas of the world.